Hey guys,

k so one day i was driving my 85 Z, (LG4) and it stalled, tried starting it. and the starter made a really loud scary noise, tried again, and again. same thing. So i push the car into the driveway (happened to be right infront of my house), take the starter out. and find out it had a huge crack in the casing.

The ring gear looked fine, and since it was christmas i was short on funds. So i went to the wrecker and found a starter out of an 86 or 87 firebird with a 305 TBI i believe.

The original starter had no shims on it, so i installed the new one liek that, and it grinded a little bit and then started the car, did that every time. half a second grind then VROOOM. So i figured i needed to shim it, so i shimmed my starter a few times with a few different size shims and got the same result.

right now its shimmed 1/16" and it still grinds for half a second every time i start it,
RARELY, itll start no problem, not a grind at all.
and sometimes if i turn the key the starter will just spin freely, without even making contact. in which i turn the key again and it works.

This is a puzzle im relaly having trouble with here, its embarrassing and kinda scary to have my car grind loudly when starting. I know this is wrecking my ring gear as well..

If anyone has any idea on what i should try to do next please voice your opinion, liek i said i woudl shim it more, but sometimes it spins freely. and if i shim it any less then it still grinds...

edit: i wanted to include that BEFORE the original starter died my car started VERY good and almost instantly. the instant i turned the key it started.

 

The way to determine the proper shimming is having 1/8" between the starter shaft and ring gear.

You probably need a rebuilt starter. Or, at least, the one you have is dirty or has a weak solenoid.

 

I agree with five7kid. Also take a look at hte bendix and see if it has rounded edges.

 

OK, im a little confused you say i should have 1/8" between starter shaft and ring gear. You mean this in height right? Becuase the shims i have lower the starter vertically, they dont move it horizontally.

How would i measure this? jsut use 2x 1/16" shims? cuz the old starter didnt have any shims on it at all.

I guess ill try a rebuilt starter and see how that goes.

and rodrob what is a bendix?

 

bendix is the little gear in the end of the starter

 

OK, thanks. ive been looking around for new starters and it looks liek mini starters are the way to go now!

I thought they were only for race cars, but i use my car as a daily driver, i probably start it about 5 times a day. Are these mini starters meant for daily use? will it be as reliable as an old heavy brick one?

 

See attached.